Binary Blobs Attack

Zach Pfeffer from Linaro talks about Binary Blobs and the problems they cause. Binary Blobs Attack!!! Most SoC vendors distribute binary blobs with Linux kernel shims. These binary blobs enable graphics engines, DSPs and other cores on ARM and other architecture SoCs. These binary blobs tend to be tied to specific kernel versions which limits unreadability and hackability and complicates device manufactures, which slows down innovation and the introduction of new and unique computing devices. This BoF is aimed at trying to improve this situation with pragmatic steps. Anyone interested in discussing their experience with binary blob integration, ideas for making this easier to deal with across architectures, ways to encourage openness while allowing vendor differentiation and others interested in a constructive dialog should attend. Zach Pfeffer, Linaro Zach Pfeffer leads Linaro's Android Platform team. Zach has led this group since April of 2011 and has been sharing Linaro's story at LinuxCon in Vancouver, ELC-E in Prague and running the Android track at Linaro Connects in Budapest, Cambridge (Cambourne), Orlando and the upcoming San Francisco Bay. Before Linaro, Zach helped customers use the first network processors from Vitesse, helped solve crime by helping to build a forensic tape examiner at NIST, built VxWorks based Pulse Pattern Generator.